RGD Reference Report - Neuronal expression of zinc finger transcription factor REST/NRSF/XBR gene. - Rat Genome Database

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Neuronal expression of zinc finger transcription factor REST/NRSF/XBR gene.

Authors: Palm, K  Belluardo, N  Metsis, M  Timmusk, T 
Citation: Palm K, etal., J Neurosci 1998 Feb 15;18(4):1280-96.
RGD ID: 633753
Pubmed: PMID:9454838   (View Abstract at PubMed)
PMCID: PMC6792720   (View Article at PubMed Central)

The identification of a common cis-acting silencer element, a neuron-restrictive silencer element (NRSE), in multiple neuron-specific genes, together with the finding that zinc finger transcription factor REST/NRSF/XBR could confer NRSE-mediated silencing in non-neuronal cells, suggested that REST/NRSF/XBR is a master negative regulator of neurogenesis. Here we show that, although REST/NRSF/XBR expression decreases during neuronal development, it proceeds in the adult nervous system. In situ hybridization analysis revealed neuronal expression of rat REST/NRSF/XBR mRNA in adult brain, with the highest levels in the neurons of hippocampus, pons/medulla, and midbrain. The glutamate analog kainic acid increased REST/NRSF/XBR mRNA levels in various hippocampal and cortical neurons in vivo, suggesting that REST/NRSF/XBR has a role in neuronal activity-implied processes. Several alternatively spliced REST/NRSF/XBR mRNAs encoding proteins with nine, five, or four zinc finger motifs are transcribed from REST/NRSF/XBR gene. Two of these transcripts are generated by neuron-specific splicing of a 28-bp-long exon. Rat REST/NRSF/XBR protein isoforms differ in their DNA binding specificities; however, all mediate repression in transient expression assays. Our data suggest that REST/NRSF/XBR is a negative regulator rather than a transcriptional silencer of neuronal gene expression and counteracts with positive regulators to modulate target gene expression quantitatively in different cell types, including neurons.

Gene Ontology Annotations    Click to see Annotation Detail View

Biological Process
TermQualifierEvidenceWithReferenceNotesSourceOriginal Reference(s)
negative regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase II  NAS 633753 RGD 

Molecular Function
TermQualifierEvidenceWithReferenceNotesSourceOriginal Reference(s)
DNA binding  IDA 633753 RGD 
DNA-binding transcription factor activity  TAS 633753 RGD 

Objects Annotated

Genes (Rattus norvegicus)
Rest  (RE1-silencing transcription factor)


Additional Information